Card system



Sept. 30, 1952l v N, STARK' 2,612,168

CCCCCC EM lPatented Sept. 30, 19,52

l, UNITED STAT PATENT OFFICE CARD SYSTEM Nathan I. Stark, West Orange, N. J., ,assgnoig by mesneassignments, to `Fandex, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 30, 1946, Serial No."- 666,099

' The particular form of construction illustrated in that patent lacks certain desired features of avcard index system, for' example, in that the index members or cards as shown are not interchangeable.

' An object ofthe present invention is to overcome this limitation and to fulfill other practical needs in providingvan extremely eiiicient card index system. -Amongother features, the vpresent invention provides a card or index system utilizing a" plurality of swingable index members of duplicate or interchangeable construction in such manner that any desired number of the members may be easily fanned out or turned around a common axis with respect to others in a'group or stack sola'ims. (C1. 12s-16.5)

to expose separately definite parts of the desired members for reference or index purposes.' Anotherv feature resides in providing the index members as receiving members for cards or the like that may be looselyreceived and held in suchmembers and carriedlby them to fanned-out 'positions for exposure of data on the several cards. The invention also provides a card yor index system employing such receiving members in advantageous positions of use as desired, and

which permit easy removal or replacement lof any groupvof the members or any member1ofa group. New Aindex members and new retainers and cabinets for them also are provided` to em- Figure lis a perspective view of one construc-A tion embodying Athe invention, in which a-fold ing cabinet housing a group of index members and car-ds appears 'in v-an open lposition of use;

Figure 2 isa perspective View offa modified form wherein an open retainer is provided for a group of the index members and cards; v Figure 3 is a full perspective view showing in a partially unfolded condition a single-index orreceiving member of4 th-e construction employed in the assemblies ofvFigures 1 and 2; i

2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the'construc-s tionof Figure 1 as it` appears when thefolding cabinet is closed.'l f The index or receiving members I5 provided: ac.

corcling to this invention may .be considered as' each being 'N #shaped in i endvvise configuration whenits leaves are `partially spread open, as theyare in Figure 3. Eaeh'member may be made of a Vpiece of any flexible iibrousor'rother suitable I' sheet materiahwhich is cut .to the desired shape and folded twice along fold linesy 5 and? so as to provide a front `leaf 3 and a back leaf 3 folded back upon opposite sidesof an intermediate body leaf E which preferably ha-s parallel topand bottom sideedges at the fold lines.

which the members are swung or farmed'outfinl use. The front leaf 3 of each member is shorter than the body leaf'and may have a free side edge i parallel with fold 5. The back leaf 8 also should be somewhat shorter than the body leaf 6, `and its 'free side edge 9 preferably iscut away at-y an angle along a diagonal line l0 which formsan abutting edge extending from edge 9 to the end edge 8c of leaf 8. When the length of endedge 8c is equalled by the length ofA end edge 3e of leaf 3,'the merging portions of side edges lil and 4 respectively may both abut against folds of ade jacent receiving members in'use of the system as hereinafter described.

- A group of many of the'swingable or receiving I in interleaved relationship is as` sembled to make a card or index system accord ing to this invention, by arranging the intermembers The members e normally lieface to face, and eachniember has an opening 2 punched through it nearafcorner thereof to accommodate a common axis about.y

fold line 1.

leaved members with their respective openings 2 in alignment and providing a transverse axle member or interconnection for the group at the openings, about` which the members may be swung in their respective planes. The members may be interleaved by inserting the back leaf 8 of each between the fro-nt leaf 3 and the body leaf 6 of an adjacent member toward its fold line 5, or conversely, inserting the front leaf 3 of one member between leaves 6 and 8 toward fold line 'I of another member. The respective fold lines Vand 1 ofthe interleaved members then may lie 'normally in common parallel places, and an axle member or rod II' (Fig. 1)0r I I (Fig. 2') may be passed easily through the aligned open-` ings 2 to serve as a common axis. Any desired series of the members then may be swung or Vfan'ned out about the axis on rod II or II into lpartially exposed positions as seen'in Fig; l or Fig. 2.

The group of members I thus assembled may be held for storage use by means of a retainer bracket I3, I3', or the like which is preferably made of asheet metal strip of desired ywidth providing a base upon which the members rest and having resilient upstanding ends each formed by bending a leg I3a upward at right angles to the base and then rebending a shorter leg I3b downward .toward the base in spaced relation to leg I 3a. The bracket I3 of Figure 2 is made approximately as wide as the end to end width of the assembled members I retained by thisA bracket,y which serves Vas a container or Vcabinet having opensides and top. The inner legs I3b of bracketl I3 are each formed lwith an opening I2 `toreceive an end vof .the axle member or rod I I, which is thus vheld removably by ends of the bracket and which lholds the group or collection of 4swin'gable'membersto the bracket by extending through their aligned openings 2. f g

From what has been described, it willbe evident that any of the members I in the assembly of Fig. 2 may be moved or turned out of itsA normalposition of alignment with the other members by engaging and moving an upper corner thereof with a lingen-tip, or by movement of a tab suchas tab A, D or H secured at the Since leaves 3 and 8 of the interleaved members are 'shorter than their respective body leaves 6, the initial movement of one member away,V from normal position need produce no movement of an vadjacent member, and the one member first becomes fanned outA or angularly offset with respectv to the'others. When.' however, one member has been moved a predetermined angleout of normalr position, as de# ter-mined 'by the spacing of its lower fold line 5 Yfrom the diagonal edge I0 on leaf 8 of -an adjacent interleaved member, a further movement ofl the one member away from normal position produces a corresponding swinging movement of the adjacent member; vand as the* swinging movement of the-one memberproceeds still farther the interleaved members of a series of such members are brought successively to a fanned out position with each member of the series at a predetermined angular spa'cingwith respect to an adjacent member. In other words, as seen from Fig. 2k, la denite part 'of rveach member of the series is thusexposed with'the` diagonal edge II) of each member abutting the fold line 5V of-an adjacent member and with the foldlines of the several members disposed as lines of' tangency to differentradii of a comi-v mon arc having its center at the axis of the aligned openings 2. It will be evident, furthermore, that the number of swingable or receiving members thus to be fanned out of normal position is determined by the arc of movement of the leading member and the angle of separation between their edges I0 and folds 5, and that the fanning out of all of the interleaved members of a very large collection or group thereof may be brought about through progressive stages of movement of members spaced at diierent locations along the common axis of the-group.; l". A,

`vT'h'e swin'gable indeiomembers Iv in an assembly of the type described may themselves carry 4data for file or indexing purposes on the triangular portions thereof that become exposed when the members are fanned out as described.

1n; addition'- h'owever, these members as here shown are adapted to receive separate cards I3 in the open pockets formed inside their respective folds `5, i. e., in the pocket of each fold 5 between the body leaf 6 of one member and the adjacent back leaf 8 of another member.

The cards I9 may be of a standard form commonly used in index or card systems, and apart of each' card may be exposed by fanning out its receiving member in the manner above described. Further; 'since the pocket of each member is open bothat the top side and at an end to 4receive or release a card, the inspection of all vdata on any card'or the revision of such data yis accomplished by simply pulling the card out of lits pocket, without having to disconnect or change mechanically any element of the-system. Any card I9 also may be offset fromthe assembly for reference by simply sliding it end.- wiseso thatl it projects from an' end of its pocket. Since denite parts of the areas of all the Vcards I9 held in the system may be exposed serially by simply fanning outV the receiving members as desired, it'will be'evident that this invention provides Aa simple and highly eiective means/for ascertainingfindex data by inspection. for listing index data and for performing other servicesof an index or card system.y

lThe vane I4, or two or more of such varies if desired'may be usedto advantage where there is very large number of receiving members .or receiving members and cardsv between the-ends of the retaining bracket I3. The vane I4 is preferably a piece of vrigid sheet material, such as metal, of about the same size as each receiving member and having a rigid tube or sleeve I5 soldered or otherwise fastenedA at right angles toits plane so as to align with -theopening's'Z of members I. The-sleeve I5 thus may extend into openings 2 of adjacent receiving members and receive their common axle member or rody II or I I', the vane thus being swingably at right anglesA to the rod and the retaining bracket so as to keep the members I from leaning too much forward or backward out of their normal planes in use.l Each vane I4 preferably is lassembled insidev a fold of an adjacent receiving member so that the vane may swing freely with/:such member and hold a number of members I square to their axis even in their fanned out positions.

vThe form of construction illustrated in Figure 1 embodies an assembly Aof receiving members andcards like those described with reference to Figure 2, together with a retaining bracket II3 and a vane I 4 similar to elements of Figure 2 but Figure 1 also embodies a more elaborate arrangement'in' which a special folding cabinet is employedto facilitate the use of the system and to enclose its receiving members and cards when they are not in use.

The cabinet as shown in Figure 1 comprises a box portion I8 having an open side and top, a swingable side or baseportion 2| hinged to the bottom of the open side, and a lid 4portion I6 hinged to portion 2|. The box portion I8 has a bottom wall, a fixedA side wall 26 and relatively xed front and back end. Walls. `The.

swingable side 2| is hinged along line 23 to the free edge of the bottom wall, so that it can'be disposed at an 'open position as in Figure 1, where it serves as an extension of the bottom Wall, or can be swung to a closed position over the open side of the boxportion. In its closed position a longitudinal fiange 22 thereon overlies part of the open top of the box portion. The lid portion I6 is hinged at 24 to flange 22 and completes the enclosure of the cabinet contents in closed position.

The retaining member or bracket I3 in Figure 1 holds the receiving members in a manner similar to bracket I3 in Figure 2, but it is narrower and is arranged as a part of the swingable side or base portion 2| so that it has two different positions With respect to the box portion I8. `Rivets 25 or the like secure bracket I 3 tothe inner face of side 2| at a location near the hinge line 23. The rod-receiving openings I2 in the shorter legs of bracket I3' are so located with respect to hinge line 23 that the receiving members I held on rod II` may rest on the bottom'of box portion I3 in either the opened or the closed position of side l2|. Thel receiving members and cards are completely enclosed and protected within the folding cabinetw'hen side 2| and lid I6 are enclosed; but when the latter are swung open the contents' of the cabinet are exposed in an advantageous working condition, The group of receiving members held on rod Il' is thus shifted laterally .to a position Where the ends of the `members project fromv the open side of the box portion and leave spacebetween their opposite ends and side Wall 26 of the box portion as seen in Fig. l. Any desired one or number of the cards I9 then may be offset into this space by hand, for "reference or indexing purposes. Y A f Furthermore, the entire group of :receiving members and cards or any desiredY portion of the group may be upended to the position seen in the background of Fig. 1, where the ends thereof near to rod II i. e., their respective end edges 3e, 6e and 8e, rest upon the opened side or base member 2 I. may be obtained at the outset by opening .the cabinet as it rests on side 2|. From such upended position the receiving members and cards may be swung or fanned back to their normal position Within boxvportion I8 as desired in the use of the system.

A further feature of the folding cabinetv construction resides in its provisions for easy assembly of a large group of loosely interleaved receiving members I upon the axle member or rod II by which they are held and about which they may be swung in use. For this purpose,

an end flange 2|) 'on the hinged side 2| may bev providedwith a small opening 20a spacedfrom flange 22 and the inner face of side 2| in 'accordance withthe spacing of the opening 2 of each receiving member' from its fold line 5 and end edge 6e. Accordingly, when the receiving members are to'be aligned and fastened in This upended position also.

place, or when individual members are to be through the openings 2 of themany receiving members, whereupon the members thus assembled' on the rod may be shifted laterally into box portion I8 and the rod II may be engaged v in the bracket holes I2' to complete the cabinet assembly.v

The inside of lid I6 may be provided with an attached pocket index II of Celluloid or other suitable material, which exposes data for use in parallel relation to the data on cardsl I9 or members I when the folding cabinet is open. An

indexed sheet having subject data properly spaced on it can be readily inserted into or removed from pocket |'I. The front end of the cabinet may have a vknob 2l to use in pulling the closed cabinet out from a plurality of similar cabinets on a shelf or desk. The outer. side of the end flange 20 on side 2| accommodates a label 28 for indexing each cabinet.

The receiving member illustrated in Figure 3 is the preferred form inasmuch as it may be cut i to shape in large quantities and folded by means of a standard folding machine.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention-into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departure from the spirit ofthe invention. Itherefore do not wish `t0 be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the'appended claims. g

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is: i

l. An index system comprising `a plurality of individual substantially iiat index members positionedlvas a group in face to face arrangement, 'said'.meinbers having a `common axis of rotation transverse to their planes andra-bout which any offsaid members may be turned in its plane, the body of eachof said members having a projectionat one side thereofv from a lower portion thereof and a projection at the other side thereof from an upper portion thereof, the last mentioned projection of one memberbeing disposed in the path vof turning movement of the first mentioned projection of an adjacent member so that a series of said members may be fanned out by turning one of said members about said axis. 2. An index systemlcomprising a plurality of individual substantially flat index members positioned as a group in face to face arrangement, said members having'a common axis of rotation transverse to their planesandabout which any of said members may be turned in itsplane,'each member comprising a 'bodyleaf Y, andy shorter leaves folded backvupon opposite sides of the body leaf from opposite side edges thereof, one of the folded leaves of each member lying inside a fold of an adjacent member and having a free edge to abut against said fold at a predetermined angular spacing of the adjacentmembers about said axis, so that a series of said7 members may be fanned yout by turning oneof Ysaid members about said axis.

3. An. index system comprising a plurality of individual `substantially fiat index members positransverse to' their planesand aboutv which any of said members may be turned inits plane, 'each member comprising a body leaf and shorter leaves -folded back upon opposite' sides'of the body leaf 'from opposite side.. edges thereof, one ofthe folded leaves of each member lying inside afold of an adjacentmember `andrhaving a'free edge to abut against said fold at a predetermined' angular spacing of the adjacent members `about said axis, so that a series of said members may beV tanned out by turning one of said members about said axis, each member providingianopen pocket to receive an index card between itsxbody leaf and one lof' its folded leaves so that portions ofA the cards received by several .members are separately exposed by fanning out the respective members.

4. An index system comprising a plurality of i a corner thereof, each member being freely swingable in its plane about said axis, ther body of each member having a projection at one side thereof `from a lower edge thereof and a projection at the other side thereof vfrom an upper edge thereof, the last mentioned projection of one member being disposed in the path of swinging movement ofthe first mentioned projection of an adjacent member soy that upon swinging one of said members about said axis a series of said members may-'be fanned out from the group through the successive abutment of projections of the respec tive members. l

5. An' index system comprising a plurality of similar individual substantially flat index mem'- bers'positioned face to face as a group with side edges of the respective members normally in alignment, each member having an opening therethrough near a corner thereof, the openings of all membersof the group being in alignment, anaxle member extending through said openings about which any of said members may be' 'swung' in its plane, each member comprising a body leaf and shorter leaves folded back upon opposite sides of the body leaf from opposite side edges thereof, one -of the folded leaves of each member lying insidea fold of an adjacent member and having a free edge to abut against said 'fold at a predetermined angular spacing of the two members about said axle member, so that a series of` said members may be fanned out by swinging one of them about said axle member.

' An index system comprising a plurality of similar individual substantially flat index members positioned face to face as a group with side edges of Vthe respective members normally vin alignment, each member having an openingl therethrough neara corner thereof, the openings of all members of the group being in alignment, an axle member extending through said openings aboutfwhich any of said members may be swung in its plane, each member comprising a body leaf and shorter leaves folded back upon opposite sides of thev body leaf from opposite side edges thereof, one of the folded leaves of each member lying inside a fold of an adjacent member and having'a'free edge to abut against said fold at a, predetermined angular spacing of the two members about said axle member, so that a series of said members may be anned out by swinging one of'tliem about said axle member, said free edge of each member extending diagonally at an angle S to the' fold lines thereofso that said free edge and said fold of'an adjacent. member abutjin parallel relation at said angular spacing' of the two members.

7. An index system. comprising a plurality of similar individual substantially flat index members positioned face to face as a group with side edges of the respective members normally in alignment,l each member having an opening therethrough near a corner thereof, the openings of all members of the group being inalignment, an axle member extending' through said openings about which any of said members may be swung in its plane, each member comprisingA a body leaf and shorter leaves folded back upon opposite sides of the body leaf from opposite side edges thereof, one of the folded leaves of each member lying inside al fold of an adjacent member .and having a free edge to abut against said fold `at a predetermined angular spacing of the two members about said axle member, so that a series of said members may be fanned out by swinging one of them about said axle member, said free edge of each member extending diagonally at an angle to the fold lines thereof so that said free edge and said fold of an adjacent mem'- ber abut in parallel relation at said angular spacing of the. two members, each member providing an open pocketto receivev an index card between its body leaf andv one of its` folded leaves so that portions of the cards received by several members arel separately exposed. by fanning out therespective members.

8. An index system comprising a plurality of Y similar individual substantially nat index members positioned face to face as a groupwithside edges ofY the respective members normally vin alignment, Yeach member having an opening therethrough near a corner thereof, the openings of all members of the group-being in alignment, an axle member extending through said openings about which any of said members may be swung in its plane, each member comprising a body leaf and shorter' leaves folded back upon opposite sides of the body leaffrom opposite side edges thereof, onel of the folded leaves of-'each member lying inside a fold ofv an adjacent member and having a free edge to abut against said fold at a predetermined angular spacing of the two members about said axle member, so that a series of said members may be fanned out by swinging one of them about said axle member, each member providing an open pocket to receive an index cardv between its body leaf and one of its folded leaves so that portions of the cards received by several members are separately exposed by `fanning out the respective members, and a substantially rigid dat vane disposed within said group in facing relation to members thereof and carried swingably by such axle member at an angle thereto so as to Y thereof, one of said folded leaves having a free edge diagonal to said fold lines, so that a plu? rality of said members may be interleaved in face to face arrangement with their respective foldlinesv and openings in alignment, may eachl receive an index card between its body leaf and au folded leaf, and may be fanned out in series about 9 an axis through said openings by abutment of the respective diagonal edges against respective folds of adjacent members.

NATHAN I. STARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 570,308 Graf Oct. 27, 1896 804,720 Halle Nov. 12, 1905 901,856 Walton Oct. 20,1908 921,822 Gaul May 18, 19094 1,047,467 Walker Feb. 17,` 1912 1,076,083 Vance Oct. 21, 1913 Number Number 15 200,611 470,850 412,071 

